Silverchair

“Is that guy still alive!?”

‘That guy’ being Daniel Johns of Silverchair; once the post-grunge teenage pioneer cum anorexic depressive type, now the mid-twenties champion of moustachioed safety-rock, shacked up with one of the finest ladies in his native Australia type. This transition places the band within an age old smoke-filled basement debate that starts with something like: “They were better on the drugs, maaannn…”

Judging by tonight’s Corn Exchange performance, the contrasts between their earlier and recent material are indeed noticeable, but Johns’ unique arrangements and songwriting hold fast between the two points. The odd stage set up places an off-centred focus on the original band members while two keyboard jockeys are relegated to the darkened peripheries. As a result, despite the intensity of the bands’ – in particular Daniel Johns - performance, the entire set feels hollow and manufactured.

It’s wonderful that our post grunge teenage wonders have matured to experience better days, but, unfortunately for Silverchair, the music was definitely better with issues. The basement debate continues.